High efficiency solar cell with lightweight support structure and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

A solar cell with lightweight support structure and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The solar cell includes: a composite substrate; a photoelectric conversion structure disposed on the composite substrate, and including a light receiving side and a back side which is opposite the light receiving side; a front electrode formed on the light receiving side; and a back electrode formed on the back side, where the composite substrate includes an optical reflective layer which is connected with the back side of the photoelectric conversion structure; and where the photoelectric conversion structure includes at least one Group III-V compound semiconductor layer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar cell with lightweight support structure, comprising:
 a composite substrate;   a photoelectric conversion structure disposed on the composite substrate, and comprising a light receiving side and a back side which is opposite the light receiving side;   a front electrode formed on the light receiving side; and   a back electrode formed on the back side;   wherein the composite substrate comprises an optical reflective layer which is connected with the back side of the photoelectric conversion structure; and   wherein the photoelectric conversion structure comprises at least one Group III-V compound semiconductor layer.   
     
     
         2 . The solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the composite substrate comprises a polymer support substrate and the optical reflective layer which is disposed on the polymer support substrate. 
     
     
         3 . The solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the polymer support substrate is flexible. 
     
     
         4 . The solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the at least one Group III-V compound semiconductor layer is selected from a group consisting of a GaAs layer, an InGaP layer, and an InGaAs layer. 
     
     
         5 . The solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the back electrode partially covers the back side of the photoelectric conversion structure. 
     
     
         6 . The solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a material of the optical reflective layer is selected from the group consisting of aluminum and silver. 
     
     
         7 . The solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the optical reflective layer adjacent to the photoelectric conversion structure is a textured surface for light trapping. 
     
     
         8 . The solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer disposed between the photoelectric conversion structure and the composite substrate. 
     
     
         9 . The solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the optical reflective layer itself is adhesive, such that the photoelectric conversion structure is adhered to the composite substrate by the optical reflective layer. 
     
     
         10 . A method of manufacturing a solar cell with lightweight support structure, comprising:
 forming a photoelectric conversion structure, wherein the photoelectric conversion structure comprises a light receiving side and a back side which is opposite the light receiving side;   providing a composite substrate; and   disposing the photoelectric conversion structure on the composite substrate;   wherein the composite substrate comprises an optical reflective layer which is connected with the back side of the photoelectric conversion structure; and   wherein the photoelectric conversion structure comprises at least one Group III-V compound semiconductor layer.   
     
     
         11 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the composite substrate comprises a polymer support substrate and the optical reflective layer which is disposed on the polymer support substrate. 
     
     
         12 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the polymer support substrate is flexible. 
     
     
         13 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the step of forming the photoelectric conversion structure comprising:
 providing a Group III-V based substrate;   forming a sacrificial layer on the Group III-V based substrate; and   growing the photoelectric conversion structure on the sacrificial layer.   
     
     
         14 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the step of disposing the photoelectric conversion structure on the composite substrate comprising:
 transferring the photoelectric conversion structure onto the composite substrate from the Group III-V based substrate.   
     
     
         15 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the step of disposing the photoelectric conversion structure on the composite substrate comprising:
 disposing the Group III-V based substrate with the sacrificial layer and the photoelectric conversion structure on the composite substrate, wherein the photoelectric conversion structure is contacted with the composite substrate;   separating the Group III-V based substrate from the photoelectric conversion structure by removing the sacrificial layer.   
     
     
         16 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the step of growing the photoelectric conversion structure on the sacrificial layer comprising:
 sequentially growing an InGaP layer, a GaAs layer, and an InGaAs layer on the sacrificial layer.   
     
     
         17 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein a material of the sacrificial layer comprises AlAs. 
     
     
         18 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising:
 forming a back electrode on the back side, wherein the back electrode partially covers the back side of the photoelectric conversion structure; and   forming a front electrode on the light receiving side.   
     
     
         19 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the step of disposing the photoelectric conversion structure on the composite substrate comprising:
 disposing an adhesive layer on the composite substrate, and   connecting the photoelectric conversion structure with the composite substrate by the adhesive layer.   
     
     
         20 . The method of manufacturing a solar cell with lightweight support structure as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the optical reflective layer itself is adhesive, such that after disposing the photoelectric conversion structure on the composite substrate, the photoelectric conversion structure is adhered to the composite substrate by the optical reflective layer.